California Thrasher

Once seen, not easily forgotten, the long, decurved bill of California Thrasher is impressive. California Thrasher is present year-round in Sonoma county where suitable habitat exists. A moderately common bird but hard to see because of its secretive habits and limited distribution. Endemic to California and northern Baja California. Prefers hilly chaparral but also found in moist woodlands with heavy brush cover. Occasionally turns up in more populated areas if there is adequate dense vegetation. In Sonoma County, perhaps best seen in the upland eastern parts of the county. Pine Flat Rd., Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, and Mt. St. Helena are good spots to look for California Thrasher here. Often found in the company of Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata), Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus), and Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea). California Thrasher requires extensive contiguous expanses of shrubby vegetation, which makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of clearing for development. Numbers appear to be declining in Sonoma county.

Uses its long bill to dig and rake for food. Mostly eats insects, especially in the spring, but will eat fruit, acorns, or other seeds at other times of the year. Said to be particularly fond of poison oak and Toyon berries (Lukas). Can sometimes be detected before it’s sighted by its noisy digging. Once in a while, particularly during breeding season, birders get treated to a good view of a lustily singing bird on an exposed perch (as in the photo above).

Resembles an oversized California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) with a long, curved bill. Large, but not pudgy and with a long tail. Mostly greyish brown, but slightly paler below and with a buffy wash on the belly and at the vent. Paler also at the throat. Dark eye. Dark eyeline. Somewhat paler above and below the eye as well, but in the field the facial features (and the lighter color on the belly and vent) are more subtle than most field guide illustrations suggest and can be hard to detect. The most obvious visual feature of California Thrasher is its distinctive bill.

Trivia: California Thrasher is related to the Mockingbird (in the family Mimidae) and, like the Mockingbird, will sometimes imitate other birds during vocalization. The Latin name redivivum means “resurrected.” According to Vuilleumier, the bird was known to Western science as early as the 16th century but then “lost” until rediscovered in 1845. Named by Gambel in that year (as Harpes rediviva).

Selected county sightings: Healdsburg (Jan 23, 2022, Colin Talcroft); Pine Flat Rd. (Jun 1, 2013, Colin Talcroft); Pine Flat Rd. (May 13, 2013, Ruth Rudesill); Pine Flat Rd. (Apr 23, 2013, Gene Hunn); Mt. St. Helena (Mar 1, 2013, Scott Carey); Mt. St. Helena (Feb 10, 2013, Brook O’Conner); Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (Jan 30, 2013, Gene Hunn); Pine Flat Rd. (Jul 1, 2012, Alan Wight); Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (May 12, 2012, Robert and Edie Jackson); Pine Flat Rd. (May, 9, 2012, Ruth Rudesill); Pine Flat Rd. (May 3, 2012, Dan Nelson); Ragle Ranch Park (Apr 3, 2012, Bill Doyle)